DOCSLIB.ORG

The Major Threat to Oil Benefits

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Major Threat to Oil Benefits Issue 12, November 2013 BLACK MONDAYNewsletter Citizen Action Against theft of our money without SHAME! EDITORIAL t a glance it is a no-brainer: A THEFT: The major country discovers oil, extracts it- Asince the world demand for oil is never-ending, starts scooping dollars, builds infrastructure, businesses start flowering, and standards of living im- prove dramatically. threat to oil benefits But wait a minute. If you take a closer look, oil-producing countries are not following identical trajecto- ries leading to prosperity – in fact there are many examples of oil lead- ing to poverty. There is another set of factors that determine if oil will benefit any given country, like legal frameworks, com- pliance to international agreements, business environment, labour force skills, infrastructure, social stability, ap- propriate economic mechanisms, trans- parency and corruption, and others. If you take the prime example of well-managed oil wealth, Norway, oil in itself did not lead to prosper- ity. Norway was a developed country even before they struck oil; and they had strong governance mechanisms in place before the oil started flow- ing. But then again, Norway is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Or let’s take Nigeria. They are Africa’s leading oil producer, yet al- most half the population lives below the poverty line-in other words they are in a worse position than Uganda. Why? Because Nigeria is one of the Inside this issue >> world’s most corrupt countries. n the “Uganda Vision 2040”, the Nation- This is the ideal scenario, and one that al Planning Authority envisages a land most adult Ugandans who have slowly wit- This is the crossroads Uganda is Iof wealth and stability: 80 % of roads nessed basic social services crumble around at now. We can choose poverty or fully paved; all Ugandans living in planned them over the years, dream about. But a prosperity, but for the latter to mate- settlements, four international airports, high dream it may remain for them, if the gov- rialize, we need to install good gov- speed trains, world-class health facilities, ernment remains on its current trajectory, ernance, transparency, a legislation schools and a globally competitive agricul- where corruption, impunity and selfishness that is clear and fair, and ensure that tural sector. continue to prevail and the gap between the corruption and theft are eliminated. This modern world is seen possible be- haves and have-nots, the corrupt and in- 2 | Interview with Hon. cause the country will be earning several corrupt, selfish and selfless keeps growing Theodore Ssekikubo Yet what we have now is (weak billions of dollars from its oil every year. wider and wider. legislation, non-transparency, unfair On the face of it, it seems as simple as With the first barrel of oil for sale antici- 4 | Pictorial: Uganda at land evictions, etc) just making the that: the international oil companies extract pated sometime around 2018, the govern- the crossroads thieves richer while the rest of us suf- the crude oil, ship off some to the interna- ment seems to already be off to a very bad fer. tional markets, a fraction goes into the pro- start. 6 | NGOs working in oil posed refinery, earnings are shared accord- The recently passed petroleum laws have governance face closure In oil lies the opportunity to re-in- ing to the terms of the Production Sharing been criticized for neglecting the need for vent our social infrastructure, but let Agreements and the money earned is used parliamentary oversight in the oil and gas 7 | Injustice, confusion mar us evict the thieves first. to supplement other existing sources of rev- sector, instead providing for tight ministeri- compensation process enue to finance this grand Vision 2040. TURN TO PAGE 3 1 NOT FOR SALE Issue 12, November 2013 The bells of apprehension about the oil are already ringing Theodre Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County), together with Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu, Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) and Gerald Karuhanga (Youth,Western) were some of the lawmakers behind the oil bribery allegations raised during a special sitting of Parliament in October 2011. Hon. Ssekikubo is currently the Chairman of the Parliamentary Forum for Oil and Gas [PFOG], a forum that continues to fight for the rights of Ugandans towards fair oil and gas benefits sharing. Below, we bring you an interview with his views about the current status, laws, institutions and what needs to be done to make it better. What is your general feeling about the cians are bound to be compromised by the oil discovery in Uganda? appointing authority whereas the Petroleum The Oil discovery spurred a lot of hope Authority is accountable to the citizens. Well, amongst Ugandans. Given the existing chal- the law (Exploration, Development and Pro- lenges like the high levels of poverty, poor in- duction Act 2013) in its current state shows frastructure and high levels of corruption this that the Authority plays a role of advising and discovery was timely and a blessing to the being consulted but all that isn’t mandatory- people of Uganda. At the crossroads, Uganda one can choose to take the advice or leave it. needed a new beginning and direction. As a country, we have been bedeviled by the high So, is all hope lost? levels of corruption, inefficient system of Of course, all hope is not lost. We never lost governance and institutions and so the bells of the battle completely. We brought the Nation- apprehension are already ringing. Given our al Oil Company whose leadership will be ap- background and the current state of affairs, it proved by Parliament having been appointed is still a high risk to applaud the oil discov- by the minister. The petroleum Authority has ery. been brought on board despite the challenges with its powers. There are other provisions like So, do you feel that since you lost the one that ensures that our environment is fully battle over Clause 9, Uganda’s oil and protected during the exploration process. gas sector is doomed-starting with the Besides, times change, I am sure once a stable law? government comes to power, there could be We had successfully passed Clause 9 whose an opportunity to amend the Bill and give essence was to give the negotiation and li- back the powers of control to the Authority. censing powers to the Petroleum Authority instead of the minister. Our issue was that the How can you explain President Musev- minister is a political person and therefore eni’s apparent efforts and insisting to could be influenced by the powers that be. give the Minister of Energy and Mineral As you know in the past, oil exploration Development total control over the oil deals with Neptune, Heritage and other and gas sector in Uganda? companies were concluded with the minister with- out the knowledge WHO IS THEODORE of Parliament and SSEKIKUBO? Ugandans in general. l Born on 20/08/1969 Politi- l Bachelor of Arts in social sci- ence and a Master in public ad- ministration and management; both from Makerere University. l Member of Parliament for Lwemiyaga County since 2001 to date. He belongs to the NRM (National Resistance Move- ment) l Member of Committee on De- fence and Internal Affairs l Chairperson Parliamentary Forum for Oil and Gas [PFOG] l One of the “rebel” MPs expelled from NRM l He worked as an assistant secre- tary/administrative officer and a lecturer 2 Issue 12, November 2013 The oil discovery was in the first place taken able Minister of Energy to think of the long stitutional court which ought to be a point of as a personal venture/business until we had a term future of Uganda. reference/arbitration that is playing politics not what IS IN the parliamentary session to discuss this matter. Although Uganda is a late entrant into the oil justice. PETROLEUM act? Of course, the president influenced the entire & gas industry compared to other countries, So, from the word go, the ad-hoc committee process of passing the bill that gave powers we can build on existing knowledge of global was doomed to fail. The then Minister of In- to the minister to grant and revoke licenses of best practices. How come oil is a blessing in ternal Affairs, Hilary Onek, refused to give l The Petroleum (Exploration, oil companies. You know that on 5th February some countries and a curse in others? We shall clearance for the committee to go and make Development and Production) Act, 2012, Tullow Oil signed an agreement with continue to be vigilant. references to Dubai, Malta, Germany and the 2013, provides for the establish- Total and CNOOC at Rwakitura. The President UK where money had been transacted. To me, ment of the Petroleum Authority of called the minister to sign the agreement yet a But there have been questions about the really this shows that the President isn’t com- Uganda, whose function will be to moratorium had been put by parliament to stop parliament itself being compromised by mitted to fighting graft. monitor and regulate exploration, this. This standing order from parliament stops the Executive? development and production of the president or the minister from signing any You see, Parliament is made up of people and In your view, how can Uganda manage petroleum in Uganda. agreements without the approval of parliament they come from the same community as all its oil and gas resources to ensure lasting but you can see what is happening already. So, other Ugandans. So if there is lack of integrity benefit for all Ugandans? Do you even l The Authority shall have a Board it shows you that he is the one in charge.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Business, Human Rights, and Uganda's
    Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil Part I: Uganda’s oil sector and potential threats to human rights Gabriella Wass & Chris Musiime 1 Editorial Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil. Part One: Uganda’s oil sector and potential threats to human rights This paper is Part One of a four part series on business, human rights and oil in Uganda: Part One Uganda’s oil sector and potential threats to human rights Part Two Protect and Remedy: Implementing State duties under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights Part Three Respect and Remedy: Implementing corporate responsibility under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights Part Four Civil Society: Holding the State and businesses to account Author: Gabriella Wass Co-author: Chris Musiime Research Assistant: Iain Clarkson Editing: Fiona Southward Layout: Anne Hullebroeck Front Cover image: The future of this boy in this Lake Albert fishing village will certainly be determined by oil. This village falls within the 29 square kilometres of land that has been earmarked for the construction of an oil refinery (ActionAid 2013) Antwerp, July 2013 ActionAid International Uganda is an anti-poverty agency that takes sides with poor people in Uganda to end poverty and injustice together. A human rights based approach defines our way of working because eradication of poverty and injustice can only happen if the rights of the poor and excluded people are protected, promoted and fulfilled. International Peace Information Service (IPIS) is an independent research institute, providing governmental and non-governmental actors with information and analysis to build sustainable peace and development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Situational Analysis on Compulsory Land Acquisition Management in Uganda
    SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS ON COMPULSORY LAND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT IN UGANDA APRIL 2019 Disclaimer: The contents of the research are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of Voice. All errors are our own and not intended ii CONTENTS ACRONYMS V LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES V FOREWORD VI ACKNOWLEDGMENTS VII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VIII 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1 2.0 CONCEPTUALIZATION OF LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING COMPULSORY LAND ACQUISITION IN UGANDA 12 3.0 COMPULSORY LAND ACQUISITIONS AND GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES STAGNATION: EXAMINING THE CAUSES 49 4.0 STUDY CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 83 5.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY 90 CASES AND INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 95 FOOTNOTES 95 LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO VALIDATED THE REPORT 97 iii iv ACRONYMS ALC Area Land Committee CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CCO Certificate of Customary Ownership CGV Chief Government Valuer CLA Compulsory Land Acquisition DLB District Land Board DLT District Land Tribunal GCALA Guidelines for Compensation Assessment under Land Acquisition MDAs Ministries Departments Agencies PAPs Project Affected Persons UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights RAP Resettlement Action Plan LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES TABLE 1: Summary of Activities Involved In Compulsory Land Acquisition TABLE II: Legal Provisions Augmenting Women’s Land Related Rights TABLE III: Summary of the Laws Governing Compulsory Land Acquisition in Uganda TABLE IV: Principles Determining
    [Show full text]
  • Oil Industry in Uganda: the Socio-Economic Effects on the People of Kabaale Village, Hoima, and Bunyoro Region in Uganda
    Syracuse University SURFACE Dissertations - ALL SURFACE 8-1-2016 Oil Industry in Uganda: The Socio-economic Effects on the People of Kabaale Village, Hoima, and Bunyoro Region in Uganda MIRIAM KYOMUGASHO Syracuse University Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/etd Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation KYOMUGASHO, MIRIAM, "Oil Industry in Uganda: The Socio-economic Effects on the People of Kabaale Village, Hoima, and Bunyoro Region in Uganda" (2016). Dissertations - ALL. 613. https://surface.syr.edu/etd/613 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the SURFACE at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations - ALL by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT This thesis examines the socio-economic effects of oil industry on the people of Kabaale Village, Hoima, and Bunyoro region in Uganda. The thesis analyses the current political economy of Uganda and how Uganda is prepared to utilize the proceeds from the oil industry for the development of the country and its people. In addition, the research examines the effects of industry on the people of Uganda by analyzing how the people of Kabaale in Bunyoro region were affected by the plans to construct oil refinery in their region. This field research was done using qualitative methods and the Historical Materialism theoretical framework guided the study. The major findings include; displacement of people from land especially women, lack of accountability from the leadership, and less citizen participation in the policy formulation and oil industry.
    [Show full text]
  • Business, Human Rights, and Uganda's
    Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil Part II: Protect and Remedy: Implementing State duties under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights Gabriella Wass & Chris Musiime 1 Editorial Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil. Part One: Protect and Remedy: Implementing State duties under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights This paper is Part One of a four part series on business, human rights and oil in Uganda: Part One: Uganda’s oil sector and potential threats to human rights Part Two: Protect and Remedy: Implementing State duties under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights Part Three: Respect and Remedy: Implementing corporate responsibility under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights Part Four: Civil Society: Holding the State and businesses to account Author: Gabriella Wass Co-author: Chris Musiime Research Assistant: Iain Clarkson Layout: Anne Hullebroeck With many thanks for the help of Bret Thiele, Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Fiona Southward, Andrés Zaragoza Montejano, and Anna Bulzomi. Front Cover image: Rwenzori Moutain Range Uganda, Julien Nakos under Creative Commons Licence. Please see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/legalcode Antwerp and Kampala, November 2013 ActionAid International Uganda is an anti-poverty agency that takes sides with poor people in Uganda to end poverty and injustice together. A human rights based approach defines our way of working because eradication of poverty and injustice can only happen if the rights of the poor and excluded people are protected, promoted and fulfilled. International Peace Information Service (IPIS) is an independent research institute, providing governmental and non-governmental actors with information and analysis to build sustainable peace and development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    Report No: ACS12528 . Public Disclosure Authorized Republic of Uganda Leveraging Oil and Gas Industry for the Development of a Competitive Private Sector in Uganda Public Disclosure Authorized . March 25, 2015 . Public Disclosure Authorized GTCDR AFRICA . Public Disclosure Authorized 1 Standard Disclaimer: This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Copyright Statement: The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with complete information to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA, telephone 978-750-8400, fax 978-750-4470, http://www.copyright.com/. All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA, fax 202-522-2422, e-mail [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Vote:008 Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Dev
    Vote Performance Report Financial Year 2016/17 Vote:008 Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Dev. QUARTER 3: Highlights of Vote Performance V1: Summary of Issues in Budget Execution Table V1.1: Overview of Vote Expenditures (UShs Billion) Approved Cashlimits Released Spent by % Budget % Budget % Releases Budget by End Q3 by End Q 3 End Q3 Released Spent Spent Recurrent Wage 4.270 3.347 3.202 3.175 75.0% 74.4% 99.2% Non Wage 114.494 90.996 91.260 87.426 79.7% 76.4% 95.8% Devt. GoU 184.942 197.569 198.631 187.175 107.4% 101.2% 94.2% Ext. Fin. 99.128 75.229 67.962 55.405 68.6% 55.9% 81.5% GoU Total 303.705 291.912 293.093 277.775 96.5% 91.5% 94.8% Total GoU+Ext Fin 402.833 367.140 361.055 333.180 89.6% 82.7% 92.3% (MTEF) Arrears 11.259 0.000 11.259 11.259 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total Budget 414.092 367.140 372.314 344.439 89.9% 83.2% 92.5% A.I.A Total 0.000 0.981 0.985 0.985 98.5% 98.5% 100.0% Grand Total 414.092 368.121 373.299 345.424 90.1% 83.4% 92.5% Total Vote Budget 402.833 368.121 362.040 334.165 89.9% 83.0% 92.3% Excluding Arrears Table V1.2: Releases and Expenditure by Program* Billion Uganda Shillings Approved Released Spent % Budget % Budget %Releases Budget Released Spent Spent Program: 1401 Macroeconomic Policy and Management 91.67 39.12 38.67 42.7% 42.2% 98.9% Program: 1402 Budget Preparation, Execution and 19.98 15.69 13.82 78.5% 69.1% 88.1% Monitoring Program: 1403 Public Financial Management 87.46 51.26 44.64 58.6% 51.0% 87.1% Program: 1404 Development Policy Research and 36.18 36.25 36.24 100.2% 100.2% 100.0% Monitoring Program: 1406 Investment and Private Sector Promotion 53.40 56.63 55.52 106.0% 104.0% 98.1% Program: 1408 Microfinance 44.52 31.85 17.77 71.5% 39.9% 55.8% Program: 1449 Policy, Planning and Support Services 69.62 131.24 127.50 188.5% 183.1% 97.1% Total for Vote 402.83 362.04 334.16 89.9% 83.0% 92.3% Matters to note in budget execution 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Laying Foundation for Energy Policy Making in Uganda by Indicating the Energy Flow
    Laying foundation for energy policy making in Uganda by indicating the energy flow Amanda Nilsson | [email protected] Ingrid Johansson | [email protected] 2015-06-03 Bachelor of Science Thesis KTH School of Industrial Engineering and Management Energy Technology EGI-2015 SE-100 44 STOCKHOLM Bachelor of Science Thesis EGI-2015 Laying foundation for energy policy making in Uganda by indicating the energy flow Amanda Nilsson Ingrid Johansson Approved Examiner Supervisor Prof. Mark Howells Vignesh Sridharan Commissioner Contact person 1 I. Abstract This study aims to support the policymakers of Uganda to develop a sustainable and environmental friendly energy system by indicating the energy flow. An analysis of the interconnections between Climate-, Land-, Water- and Energy use (CLEWs) is conducted, and the most important connection between the hydropower and agriculture’s water use is identified. In this report, the sections energy and economy are analysed, please see “…” for a further analysis of the water- and land use. Uganda is today a country with large dependence on both agriculture and hydropower, which might become a problem in the future as the electricity demand grows and the environmental condition changes. In this report a future electricity demand is projected and used as an input in the Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS) to find the least cost solution (NPV) to meet the future growing energy demand for different scenarios. This resulted in an energy mix where all the hydropower potential in the country is utilised in the country together with a large installed capacity of natural gas, which will be extracted from the national reserves.
    [Show full text]
  • Governance and Livelihoods in Uganda's Oil-Rich Albertine Graben
    GOVERNANCE AND LIVELIHOODS IN UGANDA’s oil-rich ALBERTINE GRABEN March 2013 Understanding conflict. Building peace. About International Alert International Alert is a 27-year-old independent peacebuilding organisation. We work with people who are directly affected by violent conflict to improve their prospects of peace. And we seek to influence the policies and ways of working of governments, international organisations like the UN and multinational companies, to reduce conflict risk and increase the prospects of peace. We work in Africa, several parts of Asia, the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Latin America, and have recently started work in the UK. Our policy work focuses on several key themes that influence prospects for peace and security – the economy, climate change, gender, the role of international institutions, the impact of development aid, and the effect of good and bad governance. We are one of the world’s leading peacebuilding NGOs with more than 200 staff based in London and 14 field offices. To learn more about how and where we work, visit www.international-alert.org. © International Alert 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without full attribution. Layout by D. R. ink Front cover image: © Sven Torfinn/Panos GOVERNANCE AND LIVELIHOODS IN UGANDA’s OIL-RICH ALBERTINE GRABEN 2 International Alert Acknowledgements This report has been produced as part of Harnessing the Potential of Oil to Contribute to Peace and Development in Uganda, a project which is implemented by International Alert.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Content
    www.ucmp.ug The Uganda Chamber of MINESMINES && PETROLEUMPETROLEUM Issue: 15 April, 2016 A CASE FOR LOCAL CONTENT TANGA, LAMU BOTH GET PIPELINES Uganda Marks Uganda Marks Lessons for Hoima, 10 Years Since 10 Years Since from Aberdeen Oil Discovery Plot 11/13 Lower Kololo Terrace Fax: +256 (0) 312 229 234/5 Website: www.aon.com 2 Bolloré Africa Logistics in Uganda Plot M-611, Ntinda Road Tel; +256 414 336000 I Email; [email protected] UCMP COUNCIL MEMBERS Hon Elly Karuhanga, Adewale Fayemi, ChairmanCHAMBER COUNCIL COUNCIL Partner – Kampala General Manager, Total E&P, Associated Advocates and Uganda Chairman dfcu bank, Nile Breweries, BAT and other companies Hon Richard Kaijuka, Kellen Kayonga, Vice Chairman COUNCIL Chairman, EA Gold & Africa Managing Director, of Askar Gold Refinery Security Services Paul Sherwen Jimmy Mugerwa, General Secretary COUNCIL Tullow, Uganda Country Manager Jeff Baitwa Matthew Tallarovic Treasurer COUNCIL Partner, Deloitte (Uganda) Ltd Director ThreeWays Shipping Services [Group] Ltd Xiao Zong Wei Irene Nakalyango COUNCIL COUNCIL CNOOC, Uganda, CEO, UCMP President Xiao Zong Wei 44 TheThe UgandaUganda ChamberChamber ofof MinesMines && PetroleumPetroleum UCMP COUNCIL MEMBERS Gordon Sentiba Herman Kasekende ADVISOR ADVISORS ADVISOR Astor Finance Plc Standard Chartered Bank, Managing Director Joshua Tuhumwire ADVISOR Mining consultant, Gondwana Geoscience Denis Kusaasira, Consulting Ltd. Also former ADVISOR Commissioner of the Uganda Department of ABMAK Geological Survey & Mines Managing Partner Igor Markov ADVISOR Semliki Rift Trading Sam Thakkar ADVISOR UHY Thakkar & Gerald Mukyenga Associates ADVISOR Certified Public Accountants Multilines International CEO Daniel Pettersson, ADVISOR Hima Cement, Country Manager The Uganda Chamber of Mines & Petroleum 5 Awakening the Shattered Dreams of Suppliers he second oil and gas convention organized by the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum comes at a great time.
    [Show full text]
  • New Oil, Same Business? at a Crossroads to Avert Catastrophe in Uganda ACRONYMS
    New Oil, Same Business? At a Crossroads to Avert Catastrophe in Uganda Community-Based Human Rights Impact Assessment of the Lake Albert Oil Extraction Project and Related Developments in the Albertine Graben, Uganda September 2020 / N° 757a Cover picture: A road to Lake Albert shores, where the Kingfisher oil wells are based. © Martin Dudek TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS 5 I. INTRODUCTION 6 1. The Local and National Context of this Human Rights Impact Assessment of the Lake Albert Oil Extraction Project 7 1.1. Local context in the Albertine Region 7 1.2. A complex political and economic situation in Uganda 8 2. Methodology 10 2.1. Brief presentation of the methodology: its reach and its limits 10 2.2. A rights-based approach 12 II. THE LAKE ALBERT OIL EXTRACTION PROJECT AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTS 14 1. Overview of the extraction project 14 2. The main companies involved 18 2.1. Total 20 2.2. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) 21 2.3. Tullow Oil 24 2.4. Atacama 25 2.5. EnviroServ Uganda 26 2.6. Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium 27 2.7. Uganda National Oil Company 27 3. Timeline of Oil Development in the Lake Albert Region 28 4. Legal actions initiated against the project 29 III. ASSESSING RESPECT FOR HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS: FINDINGS AND ATTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY 30 1. Human Rights Defenders: Violence, harassment, and impunity in the Albertine Region 30 1.1. Violence and harassment against human rights defenders 34 1.2. Shrinking space and increased bureaucracy 39 1.3. A generalized environment of impunity 42 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Infrastructure Investments in East Africa and the Relevance of the Energy Charter Treaty
    Energy Infrastructure Investments in East Africa and the Relevance of the Energy Charter Treaty James Nyamongo and Lilian K. Nyamongo Energy Charter Secretariat 2019 DISCLAIMER Information contained in this work has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither the Energy Charter Secretariat nor the work’s author guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and neither the Energy Charter Secretariat nor the work’s author shall be responsible for any losses or damages arising from the use of this information or from any errors or omissions therein. This work is published on the understanding that the Energy Charter Secretariat and the work’s author supply the information but do not attempt to render legal or other professional services. This study is published without prejudice to the position of Contracting Parties/Signatories of the Energy Charter Treaty or to their rights or obligations under the Energy Charter Treaty or any other international investment agreement. The contents of this work are the author’s sole responsibility. They do not necessarily represent the views of the Energy Charter Secretariat. © Energy Charter Secretariat 2019 Boulevard de la Woluwe, 46 B-1200, Brussels, Belgium Reproduction of this work, save where otherwise stated, is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged. All rights otherwise reserved. ISSN : 2593-8983 2 Energy Infrastructure Investments in East Africa and the Relevance of the Energy Charter Treaty Abstract The rapid development of regional energy infrastructure is necessary to achieve economic development and growth in East Africa. This paper examines the role of the International Energy Charter and the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) process in facilitating investments in energy infrastructure in East Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • THE UNSUSTAINABILITY of COUNTING on STABILITY Ecotourism, Extraction and the Challenges to Conservation in Times of a Global Pandemic
    THE UNSUSTAINABILITY OF COUNTING ON STABILITY Ecotourism, extraction and the challenges to conservation in times of a global pandemic Janna Fleuren Wageningen University SDC Supervisor: Bram Büscher MSc Thesis: ENP-80436 ENP Supervisor: Machiel Lamers February 2021 THE UNSUSTAINABILITY OF COUNTING ON STABILITY Ecotourism, extraction and the challenges to conservation in times of a global pandemic Janna Harriëtte Fleuren MSc Student Environmental Sciences Specialisation Environmental Policy Sustainable Development Diplomacy Master Track Student no. 950103241100 Wageningen University (WUR) Prof. Dr. B.E. Büscher Sociology of Development and Change (SDC) Group Wageningen University (WUR) Dr. M.A.J. Lamers Environmental Policy (ENP) Group Wageningen University (WUR) MSc Thesis Environmental Sciences Environmental Policy (ENP) Group ENP – 80436 February 2021 Abstract The 2020 global pandemic brought a rupture in many ‘normal’ nature conservation practices. Focusing on the Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) in Uganda, this thesis shows that counting on a general global stability is unsustainable in the way nature conservation is currently organised through PAs. It does so by analysing the ‘Ecotourism-Extraction Nexus’ in MFCA and how this neoliberalised conservation area has become heavily reliant on both sectors to fund conservation. As ecotourism has come to a near complete standstill due to the pandemic, it turns out that this faith in international stability, at least in terms of the possibility for continued circulation and growth of the key economic sectors in the Nexus, is unwarranted and carries high risks. Additionally, in order to protect the NP and these industries, local rural communities have been actively excluded from the area and subjected to securitisation measures.
    [Show full text]